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Working in an office can be fun, but in most cases it is anything but. You have your boss breathing down your neck, annoying co-workers to contend with, and long days that drag, especially at the end of the week or when the weather outside is exceptional.

On the other hand there’s a definite need for efficiency in any workplace, and especially offices, where people are competing for space and equipment. With this in mind, perhaps it’s time for you and your company to reinvent the office in order to make it more fun and efficient.

What follows are seven simple ways to reinvent the office. Taken as a whole they should boost morale, improve efficiency, and make your company one that more people want to work for. Paying employees more money is notable by its absence, as it turns out money isn’t always the answer.

They’re so fun, in fact, that buying some could be the perfect way to reinvent the office. Hoverboards suggest a playful company that’s on the move. And in a literal sense they will help employees travel around the office, moving from one area to the next. You’ll just have to hope no one breaks a hip falling off one.

Provide Free Snacks

Most offices have some kind of vending machine packed full of snacks. Some even have staff canteens where a selection of foodstuffs is thrown in the microwave oven lovingly crafted from scratch. The problem is expecting staff to pay for these tasty morsels with their meager pay.

Providing free snacks is surely one of the simplest and most effective ways of boosting morale. Sure, it might also boost waistlines, unless there are healthy snacks on offer as well, but just knowing a company cares enough to provide sustenance for the staff will keep employees loyal and laboring.

Be Generous With Breaks

No matter how much workers enjoy their jobs — and you have to hope they do enjoy their jobs to a certain degree — every single one of them looks forward to their next break. Unfortunately, many businesses are far too stingy when it comes to breaks, and that could actually be counter-productive.

Having even a short break from work allows employees to recharge their batteries. They can also get a caffeine hitHow to Boost Your Brain Without CaffeineHow to Boost Your Brain Without CaffeineCoffee is a quick-fix for low productivity. But withdrawal symptoms and health risks harm productivity in the long run. These alternative solutions can boost your energy in a caffeine free way,Read More, satisfy their growling tummy, or simply collect their thoughts for a few minutes. Allowing employees to take breaks as and when they need them will boost productivity, prevent burnout, and improve morale on a massive scale.

Provide Exercise Equipment

While many of your colleagues will choose to spend their breaks eating, drinking, or relaxing, others would prefer to stay active, making exercise equipment an invaluable addition to any office. Gym memberships are an alternative option, but most companies will balk at the price of such a perk. In the long term it’s more affordable to install some basic equipment in a designated room.

Install Ergonomic Furniture

The health and wellbeing of employees should arguably be the number one priority for every business, even ahead of profitability. Without healthy and happy staff members willing to give their all for the company, that company is going to struggle to grow as fast or as far as it could. With that in mind, bosses shouldn’t scrimp and save when it comes to providing the workforce with the proper equipment needed to do their jobs.

In practical terms this means installing ergonomic furnitureWhat To Look For In The Perfect Office ChairWhat To Look For In The Perfect Office ChairIt is absolutely crucial to pick the right office chair. The decision over which to buy shouldn't be taken lightly, especially if you're going to be spending several hours of each day sitting on the...Read More designed to work with, rather than against, the bodies of those you employ. Ergonomic desks, chairs, computers, keyboards, and mice can all work together to ensure employees can work safely and comfortably. This will inevitably result in fewer staff taking time off because of bad backs, wrist problems, and general aches and pains. That initial outlay of cash could pay dividends over many years to come.

Improve the Layout

You probably haven’t ever paid much attention to the layout of the office you work in, whether you’re in a position of authority or a prole tapping endlessly away at a keyboard. But this is a mistake. The layout of an office can have a profound effect on the way people work, with a well-laid out office boosting productivity levels, social interactions, and the general mood of the workforce.

Not all office layouts are created equal, and your final choice should reflect your company and the business you’re in. Open offices encourage collaboration and cooperation, but creatives may need an enclosed space away from unnecessary distractions to produce their best work. Getting the layout right is an essential ingredient in any concerted effort to reinvent the office.

Buy a New High Speed Printer

Last but not least in our list of ways to reinvent the office is buying a new business printer, specifically the HP PageWide Pro 577. This printer, which is primarily aimed at businesses, features a stationary printhead that spans the entire width of a page. Hence the name. This allows it to print faster, and at a higher quality, than regular inkjet printers.

Buying a faster, better printer could transform your office, leaving employees more time to actually work rather than standing around waiting for important documents to print. HP wants to reinvent the office, and investing in one of the company’s printers would be a good start to achieving that goal.

How Would You Reinvent the Office?

So, there you have it, seven simple ways to reinvent the office. However, there are many more options available to companies such as yours, so if you were in charge, what changes would you make in order to reinvent the office?

Would you focus on fun things in order to boost morale and hope that increased productivity would naturally follow? Or would you focus on changing the work environment in terms of the layout, furniture, and equipment to help your employees in a more practical sense?

Fitness equipment is a good idea, but be sure to get good liability insurance.
I think the best office layouts are flexible, with a good variety of spaces, with rooms for individuals, small collaboration teams/tiger teams/extreme coding teams, etc., large and medium conference rooms and the like. Movable walls (not cube walls, but the type of folding walls installed in hotel function spaces) can do this, if you're willing to pony up the money.